Welcome to an online workshop by the Interreg Aurora funded project INSPIRE, hosted by Elinvoimakeskus Etelä‑Pohjanmaa and Länsstyrelsen Västerbotten. Using citizen science and behaviour insights to strengthen invasive alien species reporting and eradication efforts. The workshop focuses on how to strengthen public engagement in the prevention, reporting and eradication of invasive alien species.
When? 31 March 2026, 11.00-13.00 (CET), 12.00-14.00 (EET)
You can find the agenda and registration on this web page
Municipalities, regional authorities and organisations working with biodiversity, land management, communication or public outreach are especially welcome.
Invasive species continue to spread across the Nordic region, creating ecological, social and economic challenges. Successful mitigation requires not only expert knowledge and resources, but also the active participation of citizens, landowners and local communities. To understand why people engage—or choose not to engage—we need insights from behavioural science and citizen science research.
This workshop brings these perspectives together.
Participants will:
- Gain a scientific overview of common engagement barriers and how to overcome them
- Hear a keynote presentation from Dr. Michael Pocock, one of the leading experts on how to utilise citizen science to engage activity against invasive alien species
- Hear practical cases from Finland and Sweden on engaging citizens and landowners
- Reflect on local challenges and difficult‑to‑reach target groups
- Work in small groups to identify key obstacles and design simple, effective engagement interventions
- Leave with concrete tools, ideas and next steps for strengthening IAS efforts in their own organisation
The session is interactive and solution‑oriented, combining expert presentations with hands‑on group work. The aim is for participants to walk away with new understanding, practical methods and actionable insights to support more effective public involvement in invasive species reporting and eradication.
Learn more about the project INSPIRE
